Post War Cars

1954 The Open-Wheeled Champion2013 SOLD 19.6 M£ including premium

Everything goes very fast, in any meaning of the word, for Mercedes-Benz at the beginning of 1954. Technology is the best asset to win competitions. For coming back to racing, the German brand aligns the 300SL model for endurance and the W196 single-seater model for Formula 1.

They must win. Mercedes managed to take the best driver, Juan Manuel Fangio, world champion in 1951 with Alfa Romeo, who had just won the first two grand prix of the season on a Maserati.

For their first collaboration, Mercedes and Fangio win the Reims grand prix on a W196 with enclosed wheels. Surrounding the wheel by a piece of bodywork is a theoretical advantage because it limits the impact of air friction. The top speed exceeds 200 km / h.

At that time, the skill of the pilot is prevailing on theories. The next grand prix, at Silverstone, is sinuous. Powerless against Ferrari, Fangio requires the withdrawal of the enclosing to improve his freedom of action. This is the right decision.

Thus are born the chassis 005 and 006 of the W196. With the open wheeled 006, Fangio wins the next two grand prix, in Germany at the Nürburgring and in Switzerland at Bremgarten.

The 006 has no rival for the title of most prestigious single-seater car of all time, formerly driven by the most skilful driver of all time. It is for sale on July 12by Bonhamsat Goodwood.

POST SALE COMMENT

006 is not far from being the most prestigious car of all time in all categories. Its result at auction is the highest of all time: £ 19.6 million including premium.An open wheeled W196 (perhaps the 006) is driven by Fangio himself during a demonstration at the Nürburgring in 1986. The image below is licensed under Creative Commons with attribution By Lothar Spurzem [CC-BY-SA-2.0-de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons.

1954 The Fearsome 492014 SOLD 10.7 M£ including premium

The increase of power in motor racing seemed to have no limit. Each year, Ferrari improved his models. Top auction results enable to mark the story of this succession of new models that will be discontinued in 1955 by the regulation changes resulting from the accident at Le Mans.In 1953, to follow the success of the 340MM, Ferrari prepares the 375MM. An intermediate specimen between these two models coachworked in berlinetta by Pinin Farina was sold for € 9.9 million including premium by RM Auctions on May 25, 2013. This car driven by Farina, Hawthorn, Ascari and Maglioli has a very good competition record.Jim Kimberly is the most discerning customer. Appreciating that the performance of the 340MM had been limited by problems of overheating, he requests Ferrari to change the brake system of his new 375MM. This 1953 car coachworked in spider by Pinin Farina was sold for $ 9.1 million including premium by RM Auctions on August 16, 2013.In 1954, Ferrari is again increasing the power. The new model is the 375 Plus, with a volume of 4.9 liters which provides a tremendous power and earns it the nickname of Fearsome 49. Five cars are made.The first of these five 375 Plus, coachworked in spider by Pinin Farina, is for sale on June 27 by Bonhams in London during the Goodwood festival of speed, lot 320. Used extensively in competition in 1954 notably with Maglioli, this car was owned for a short time in 1955 by Kimberly. Dismantled by a subsequent owner, it was restored in a satisfactory state of authenticity including the reassembly with its original engine.The technological achievement of this line of models is the 410S, built in four units in 1955. This wonderful super-powerful car had an improved stability through a reduced chassis. The only 410S that was coachworked in berlinetta by Scaglietti was sold for $ 8.25 million including premium by RM Auctions on August 17, 2012.I invite you to view the video shared by Bonhams.

POST SALE COMMENTThe importance of this car in the history of Ferrari was announced many months before the sale. It was sold for £ 10.7 million including premium.

1955 For Winning the Pan-Am2014 SOLD for $ 23M including premium

In 1950, the Mexican government created the Carrera Panamericana. The difficulty of this endurance race over 3300 Km of roads stirs the lust of the best car brands.

In 1954, the Pan-Am was won by Umberto Maglioli for Scuderia Ferrari with a Ferrari 375 Plus. 375 Plus was the technological sensation of the year, designed for power and endurance with its huge engine of 4.9 liters.

In 1955, Ferrari wants to do even better. The model 410 Sport or 410 S CM is based on a volume of engine similar to the 375 Plus but the mechanical equipment around is highly changed. CM meaning Carrera Messicana clearly indicates that Ferrari relied on the Pan-Am for demonstrating their superiority.

It is required that the car is stable. A new chassis lowers the center of gravity and the wheelbase is slightly reduced to a new standard that will be used two years later for the 250 Testarossa.

The car must be independent over long distances. To avoid refueling, the 410 S is equipped with a vast reservoir of 195 liters and large pipes.

Four cars are built, the first two for private clients and the other two for the Scuderia.

The first is a spyder. It waits in vain for the Mexican race which is canceled after the accident at Le Mans for the great frustration of Enzo Ferrari. It has been little raced and has an incident free history.

It is offered in Monterey by Rick Cole in an auction that ends on August 17 without a floor session. It is illustrated on the article shared by Sports Car Digest.

The second car is the only of the four to have been coachworked as a berlinetta. It was sold for $ 8.25 million including premium by RM Auctions on August 17, 2012. The last two are spyders. One of them was sold for $ 3.8 million including premium by RM Auctions in August 2001, an outstanding price for that time.

POST SALE COMMENT

Reported as unsold with a maximum bid of $ 22.111M.Sports Car Digest later caught the information that it was sold in post block sale for a final price of $ 23M.

​1955 Short Nose for Ecurie Ecosse2016 SOLD for $ 21.8M including premium

In the early 1950s, Jaguar targets Le Mans. The C-Type perfectly meets this ambition. Design changes are frequent to maintain competitiveness and to follow the rule changes made necessary to ensure the safety.

The C-Type Lightweight from 1953 is a transition model preparing the 1954 D-type. In 1955, the D-Type Long Nose carries the expectations of the brand. In the same year, for meeting the requirement to engage commercially available models in competition, Jaguar begins to produce in series the D-Type model with its 1954 "short nose".

The first two commercial D-Type, chassis XKD 501 and 502, are delivered in 1955 to Ecurie Ecosse, a private team that works closely with Jaguar. Due to an accident, XKD 501 cannot participate at Le Mans in its first year.

The disaster of Le Mans significantly changes the game. Mercedes-Benz will not return. In 1956, a regulatory limitation of the fuel creates a headache for high volume engines. The XKD 501 of the Ecurie Ecosse wins the race one lap ahead of an Aston Martin. The feat of the Ecurie Ecosse is of high merit because the car is equipped with a big 3.4-liter engine.

Still more important changes are being considered in the rules. In 1957 Jaguar terminates its racing team. In 1958 Le Mans limits the size of engines to 3 liters, precipitating the end of career of the glorious chain of the C-Types and D-Types. It is funny to note that "C" meant Competition while "D" is simply the next after C in the alphabet.

XKD 501 was maintained in its configuration and its engine of the 1956 Le Mans victory. Its condition is certainly the most authentic among the five Jaguar that won at Le Mans in the 1950s. It had been fitted before Le Mans with the engine from the third D -Type of Ecurie Ecosse, XKD 561, a car that the team mostly used as a spare.

XKD 501 is estimated $ 20M for sale by RM Sotheby's in Monterey on August 19, lot 114. In its class, glory brings an added value : in very good condition, XKD 561 was sold for £ 2.6M including premium by Bonhams on December 1, 2013. Please watch the video shared by RM.

​1956 A Ferrari for the Use of Fangio​2015 SOLD for $ 28M including premium

Mercedes-Benz stopped its involvement in competition at the end of the 1955 season. Ferrari watched around the corner and managed to sign a contract with Juan Manuel Fangio. Aged 45 in 1956, the Argentine champion felt that his future was unassured due to the fall of Peron and could not any more consider to retire.

The World Sportscar Championship arouses a similar interest as Formula 1. Faced with the formidable challenge from the Maserati 300S, Ferrari prepares the 290 MM, certainly with some recommendations by its new driver. As usual for Ferrari at that time, the race for which the model is specifically prepared is indicated in the description: MM means Mille Miglia. Four cars are built.

The 1956 Mille Miglia are disturbed by heavy rain that causes no less than three fatalities. The competition is won by a 290 MM driven by Castellotti. Fangio is fourth with his car of the same model.

That 290 MM will not be reused later by Fangio but will have a significant history with other top drivers from the Scuderia Ferrari such as Portago, Phil Hill and Gendebien. Sold to a US private owner in the middle of the 1957 season, it is raced until 1964 without any crash.

This car has retained all its original features: chassis, engine, gearbox and its body by Scaglietti. It is for sale by RM Sotheby's in New York on December 10, lot 221.

Fangio failed to cooperate permanently with Enzo Ferrari and came back to Maserati just after his one-year contract. The Ferrari cars driven in competition by this champion are indeed extremely rare and the example for sale has an amazing authenticity. It is estimated $ 28M.

When David Brown buys Aston Martin and Lagonda in 1947, his ambition is to lead Aston Martin to win at the 24 hours of Le Mans by relying on the innovative achievements of both brands. Twelve years of stubborn efforts will follow.

The valiant DB3S manages to sneak into the podiums of the endurance competitions but is not powerful enough against Ferrari, Jaguar and Maserati. The changes in Le Mans regulation for limiting the volume in the prototype category are favorable to Ferrari and Aston Martin. The two brands launch ambitious developments : the 250 TR in 1957 for Ferrari and the DBR1 (David Brown Racing 1) in 1956 for Aston Martin.

The first DBR1 car (DBR1/1) is assembled in 1956 with a 3-liter engine sometimes replaced until 1958 by a 2.5-liter engine to comply with the new regulations of some competitions. In 1957 a second DBR1 is made, along with two DBR2 equipped with a larger engine that will be upgraded in two phases to 4.2 liters. Three additional DBR1 will follow.

This model is perfect for the 1000 Km Nürburgring won in 1957 by DBR1/2, in 1958 by DBR1/3, and in 1959 by DBR1/1 with Stirling Moss and Jack Fairman. Taking advantage of Ferrari's misfortune, DBR1/2 realizes at last its boss's dream by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959. After a final DBR1/2 victory at Goodwood, Aston Martin stops the competition probably due to financial difficulties and the cars continue their careers with private teams.

Painstakingly maintained as close as possible to its 1959 configuration with the cooperation of the former chief designer of the DBR project, DBR1/1 will be sold by RM Sotheby's in Monterey on August 18, lot 148. It is equipped with a replica engine of the correct configuration and accompanied by its 3-liter engine of 1959. The press release of June 23 expects a price in excess of $ 20M.

Wikipedia and several sources on the web since 2013 indicate that DBR2/1 was sold for £ 9.2M in a private sale.

Please watch in the RM tweet the very short video shared by the auction house.Wikimedia shares an image of DBR1/1 driven by Carroll Shelby at Sebring in 1958. Attribution : By C5813 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

​1957 Prototipi for the Mille Miglia2016 SOLD for € 32M including premium

The Prototipi class in endurance racing enables Ferrari to develop in the mid-1950s a range of powerful and spectacular vehicles made in very small quantities. The top goal is to win the Mille Miglia.

In 1956, Ferrari's efforts were rewarded by a return to victory with a 290 MM driven by Castellotti. Another 290 MM driven by Fangio went fourth. This latter car was sold for $ 28M including premium by RM Sotheby's on 10 December 2015.

In 1957 the 315 S with a 3.8-liter engine and the 335 S with a 4-liter engine appear as the successors to the 290 MM. A 315 S driven by Taruffi won the race ahead of another 315 S driven by Von Trips. Unfortunately the most prestigious Italian endurance competition is forbidden by the Italian government following the accident of the 335 S of De Portago.

Other competitions continue and the cars are subject to the improvements necessary to maintain their competitiveness. The Ferrari 315 S which had been used by Von Trips receives a 4-liter engine, becoming a 335 S. It is also equipped with the fender pontoon front intended to reduce the overheating, which makes the glory in the same year of the 250 Testarossa .

After a very good competition history, the 315 S / 335 S enters the collection of Pierre Bardinon who restores it in its spider configuration while separately keeping the pontoon fender that still accompanies the car today. It is estimated € 28M for sale by Artcurial in Paris on February 5, lot 170. Here is the link to the press release.

1957 The Prototype of the Testa Rossa2011 SOLD 16.4 M$ including premium

The Ferrari 250 TR is perhaps the most prestigious model of post WW-II car history . I have already told this group how Ferrari got in 1957 a lasting benefit from changes in race regulations that had been made necessary by a series of terrible accidents.

In that article, I presented one of 22 copies of the 250 TR. Announced in advance by RM Auctions as prepared to break the record at auction, it had fully met its promises: € 9M including premium on May 17, 2009 in Maranello.

Gooding publishes similar ambitions for another 250 TR, presented in their sale of Pebble Beach on 20 and 21 August. Mid-August sales organized by the major specialized auction houses in California are those that offer the most prestigious vehicles.

The new wonder offered by Gooding is the prototype of the Ferrari 250 TR. No less. With an outstanding racing pedigree, it has had only two owners in the last 40 years and has been maintained in superb condition with its original engine. The reserve price is certainly set to target a new car auction world record.

There is one month still left to the auctioneer to entice potential buyers, and success is quite possible. Gooding, one of the best specialists in the high-end collection cars, is the company that made ​​the private sale of the most expensive car in the world in all categories: the Bugatti Atlantic from Dr. Williamson collection that was sold in May 2010 for an undisclosed price possibly in the vicinity of $ 30M.

The result confirms that Gooding is the specialist for selling the most outstanding vehicles by private sale or, as here, at auction. The Testa Rossa prototype was sold $ 14.9 million before fees, 16.4 million including premium.

​1959 Aluminum for Chinetti2017 SOLD for $ 18M including premium

Designed on the 250 GT chassis as a cabriolet to please American customers, the California Spider (or Spyder) was not expected by Ferrari to compete in endurance racing against the berlinetta nicknamed TdF built on the same chassis.

It was however tempting to push the California into the competition. Luigi Chinetti is acting between Ferrari and American customers. Having been at the origin of the California project, he obtains from Ferrari the delivery of aluminum alloy bodied spiders.

In 1959 the 250 GT chassis is still in its long version which will later be identified as LWB. For the 24 hours of Le Mans in that year Chinetti and his NART team enter three Ferraris : a 250 Testa Rossa, a 250 TdF and a California Spider.

Released from the factory under pressure from Chinetti five days before Le Mans with a simple flash of paint and a far from completeinterior layout, this 250 GT LWB California Spider is the second of its kind in the Competizione configuration. Driven by its first owner and a co-driver, this brand new car ends the event with a very good result : 5th overall and 3rd in class. It was afterward honorably participating in various American competitions in 1959 and 1960.

This high-end car with a competition history is still more desirable since it was restored in 2011 by Motion Products Inc., the company of Wayne Obry. It is for sale by RM Sotheby's in New York on December 6, lot 141 estimated $ 14M.

One of the seven (or eight) other LWB aluminum bodied Spiders was sold for $ 18M including premium by Gooding on August 20, 2016. Ferrari and NART did not push this solution much further : only three SWB Spiders will be built for competition.

​1959 A California Spider in Lightweight Alloy2016 SOLD for $ 18M including premium

The Ferrari 250 GT California Spider in the wheel base later identified as LWB is a series of 50 sports cars produced to please American customers between 1957 and 1960. The SWB is its successor. The brand continually works to improve its products and remains attentive to specific needs, which can create significant disparities from one vehicle to another.

Nine 'LWB' were originally built for competition with a lightweight body in aluminum alloy. A California Spider 'LWB' Competizione built in 1959 is for sale on August 20 by Gooding in Pebble Beach, lot 033. It is illustrated in the post shared by Forbes.

The settings of this model had been specially effective, including some engine components from the Testa Rossa to achieve a compression ratio of 9.8: 1, the highest of all the LWB, and a power of 275 hp about 50 hp over the basic model. Its features include from the origin the disc brakes, a rarity at that time, and its headlights are covered.

Sold to Chinetti for George Reed who was Ferrari's agent in Illinois and Wisconsin, it was raced with some parsimony until 1964 and remains in a matching numbers configuration for all its major elements.

This car is exceptional when considering that it is the best performing from all the LWB and that only three SWB California Spider Competizione were later assembled. It is estimated $ 18M.

Another LWB California Spider Competizione was sold for $ 11.3 million including premium on 18 August 2012, also by Gooding. Made in 1960, it had been used by Reed as a show car. It was in excellent condition but with no racing history.